Golf bag



Dem W, 1935. H. A. SAMPSON GOLF BAG 7 INVENTOR. H/QPOLD AJAMPJfl/M 6% Jam Filed April 19, 1932 Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIQE GOLF BAG Harold A. Sampson, Burlingame, Calif.

Application April 19, 1932, Serial No. 606,100

2 Claims.

'agolf bag of the character described which may be reversed when it isdesired to use the same .under playing conditions, so that structuralelements such as the carrying strap and pockets are positionedon theoutside of the bag.

Still another-object of my invention is to provide a golf bag whichgives added protection to and maintains an orderly arrangement of the.golf clubs.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved pocket forcarrying golf balls.

A still further object of my invention includes the provision of a golfbag which provides ample carry-ing space for items such as slickers,sweaters and other wearing apparel and excess paraphernalia.

- My invention possesses other objects and features'of advantage, someof which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in .the followingdescription-of myinvention. It is tobe understood that I do not limitmyself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adoptvariant embodiments thereof within the scopeof the claims.

in a reversed condition for use when playing.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the bag in a closed condition andready for ordinary transportation.

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken in aplaneindicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and illustrates the formation ofthe carrying pockets on opposing surfaces of the side flaps.

Figure 4 .is a fragmental elevational view-showing details of the Zipperconstruction; this View being drawn to a considerably larger scale thanthe views shown in the other figures for purposes of illustrating theconstruction more clearly. I 7 5 Figure 5 is an elevational view of thelower portion of the bag when the same is in use under playingconditions.

In terms of broad inclusion, the golf bag embodying my inventioncomprises a pair of side 5 flaps connected along one of their side edgesand reversely foldable along the connected edges so that the flaps maybe folded together with either of their surfaces forming the exterior ofthe bag. Means are also provided for detachably connectl0 ing the freeedge portions of the flaps together.

Pockets for carrying the golf clubs, balls and other objects arepreferably mounted on opposing sides of the flaps, and a carrying strapis also mounted on the sides of the flaps having the i5 pockets, so thatwhen the flaps are folded together and the bag closed in one positionthe pockets and carrying strap are positioned on the outside of the bag,but when the flaps are folded together in the opposite direction and thebag closed in the reversed position the pockets and carrying strap arepositioned on the inside of the bag with the outer surface of the bagleft free to present a smooth and unobstructed surface. Carrying means,such as hand grips, are preferably mounted on the sides of the flapsopposite the pockets so that these grips are exposed when the bag isclosed for ordinary transportation. An improved golf ball pocket is alsoprovided for giving access to one ball at a time. g In greater detail,and referring particularly to Figure 1, the golf bag embodying myinvention comprises a similarly shaped pair of side flaps 2 connectedalong one of their side edges so that F the flaps are reversely foldablealong the connected edges. These side flaps are preferably rounded atthe top and bottom ends; the rounding at the top ends being morepronounced to provide the upwardly projecting tab portions 3. Theconnected side flaps are preferably formed from a single sheet offlexible material, such as soft leather or fabric; and the sheet isprefer ably generally rectangular in shape and cut to give the desiredshape to the half portions thereof 45 which form the side flaps 2.

When the side flaps 2 are folded they form the bag of my invention, andsince the flaps are reversely foldable along their connected edges theymay be folded together with either surface of the sheet forming theexterior of the bag. When the connected tabs 2 are formed from a singlesheet of material, as is preferred, the flaps fold about a line which issubstantially parallel with and midway between the side edges of thesheet; that 5 is, the flaps fold about the major axis of therectangularly shaped sheet forming the flaps.

Means are provided. for. detachably connecting the free edges of theside flaps together. For this purpose a Zipper is preferably employed,and is mounted with its interlocln'ng strips 4 secured along the edgesof the flaps and with its locking runner 5 having an initial or startingposition at a point along the bottom of the sheet where the flaps arejoined. This arrangement is probably best shown in Figure 1. Referringparticularly to Figure 4, the locking runner 6 is provided with a handle7 on each side thereof so that the Zipper may be operated from eitherside of the sheet. By this arrangement the flaps may be folded togetherin either direction and the edges thereof secured together to close thebag.

One surface of the sheet is left free of substantially all obstructionsso that when the flaps 2 are folded together with this surface formingthe exterior of the bag a smooth outer surface is presented. When thebag is closed by the Zipper with the flaps in this position a golf baghaving an improved external appearance is provided for use duringordinary transportation. This condition of the bag is illustrated inFigure 2. For purposes of facilitating handling of the bag in thiscondition the hand grips 8 are preferably provided. These grips arepreferably of a flexible material, such as leather, so that they may befolded back within the bag when the latter is closed in the reverseposition.

A plurality of pockets are mounted on the sides of the flaps which formthe exterior of the bag when the latter is closed with the flaps foldedtogether in a position reversed to that shown in Figure 2. In thiscondition of closure the bag is ready for use while playing. In order toadd stiffness to the side flaps 2, and also to provide a backing for thepockets, plates 9 of relatively stiff material, such as rawhide, aresecured to the sides of the flaps upon which the pocketsare mounted. AZipper H] is preferably provided along one side of these backing plates,so that space between the plates 9 and flaps 2 may be used for pockets.This construction is probably best shown in Figure 3. Referringparticularly to the latter figure, a plurality of elongated golf clubpockets II are preferably secured to one of the backing plates 9.

These pockets are preferably formed by securing a sheet l2 to thebacking plate; the securing of the sheet l2 to the backing plate beingindicated by therows of stitches E3. The sheet i2 is looped outwardlybetween the rows of stitches to provide the elongated pockets, and theouter portions of adjacent loops are secured together, as indicated bythe stitches is, to provide additional pockets between the loops Inorder to give shape to the pockets the sheet I2- is also preferably of arelatively stiff material, such as rawhide.

A plurality of golf club pockets iii are also preferably provided on.the other backing plate; these pockets are preferably formed from asheet I! in a manner similar to the formation of the pockets H, but inthis case only a series of single loops are provided. Side pockets I8adjacent the golf club pockets H and 16 are designed for carrying golfballs, and have a cross-sectional area which is substantially equal tothe cross-sectional area thru the center of a golf ball. These pocketsare preferably mounted alongthe sides of the backing plates adjacent thefold line of the flaps. Both ends of these latter pockets are closed,and

an opening slit is provided extending substantially the entire length ofthe pocket. A Zipper [9 is provided for detachably connecting the edgesof the slit, so that the pockets may be opened for any desired portionof their length.

Thus, and as best shown in Figure 1, the looking runners 2! of thepocket Zippers may be moved downwardly to open the pockets for theirentire length. The pockets are then filled by inserting the balls, oneabove the other, and moving the followers 21 upwardly as the balls areinserted. In removing the balls from these improved pockets it is onlynecessary to move the locking runners 2i downwardly until a ball isexposed.

Referring again to Figure 3, a backing plate 22 is also preferablyprovided over the intermediate club pockets IE to form a backing for arectangularly-shaped pocket 23 adapted for containing other articles ina golfers equipment.

This pocket is preferably formed by a sheet of material 24 secured tothe backing plate 2 and having an opening slit extending along twosides; this slit being preferably closed by suitable means, such as aZipper.

Since the Zipper on the bottom of the bag is subject to possible damagedue to resting the bag on the ground, a shield is preferably providedfor protecting the Zipper when the bag is open and in condition forplaying. Stitched to the joined side flaps at the. fold line as shown inFigure 1, is a strip 21 of flexible but relatively stiff material,preferably leather. The free end of this strip is bifurcated to providestraps 28 having perforations formed therein; and secured to the sideflaps 2, adjacent their edges are provided buckles 3!. As shown inFigure 5 the flexible bottom portions of the bag are shoved up betweenthe backing plates when the bag is in open position, the shield strip2'! is drawn along the bottom of the bag to overlie the Zipper at theends of the bag and the. straps 28 are secured in the buckles 3|.

It will be seen that with the strip in this position and with theflexible material of the side flaps adjacent the bottom of the bagpushed up out of the Way, the bag presents a substantially flat bottomso that it is possible to maintain the bag in an upright position whenit is set upon the ground. As shown by the dotted lines of Figure 2 thestrip 2'! may be conveniently folded into the interior of the bag whenthe latter is closed and not in use.

A carrying strap 32 is also provided for the bag, and is mounted on thesame sides of the flaps 2 as the pockets. As best shown in Figure 1,thestrap 2i is secured along the fold line between the flaps. By thisarrangementthe carrying strap 32 as well as the Various pockets mountedon the backing plates 9 are positioned within the bag when the latter isclosed for ordinary transportation. Another important feature to benoted is that the inside of the bag provides a roomy receptacle forreceiving slickers, sweaters and other excess paraphernalia when the bagis being carried on the golf course. Furthermore, when the bag is beingused while playing, the Zipper runner 6 may be closed up to a pointindicated at 33 and the tabs 3 turned inwardly to provide an open mouthbag adapted I claim:

1. A golf bag comprising a body of flexible material, the lower portionsof the body providing a club compartment and the. upper portionsproviding a hood, backing plates substantially coextensive with walls ofand terminating adjacent the upper edge of said club compartment andsecured to the body for stiffening the latter compartment, and a Zipperfor securing edge 10 portions of the body together.

2. A golf bag comprising a reversible body of flexible material, thelower portions of the body providing a club compartment and the upperportions providing a hood, backing plates substantially coextensive withwalls of and terminating adjacent the upper edge of said clubcompartment and secured to the body for stiffening the lattercompartment, and a Zipper for securing edge portions of the bodytogether.

HAROLD A. SAMPSON.

